My Oration for my Mother's retirement party

Written by me, presented to the gathering by my younger brother Prasoon

Good Afternoon Respected Principal sir, vice principal sir and distinguished members of the staff. It’s a very special day today, special for you as you all are celebrating contributions of one of your colleague towards an outstanding career, and a celebration for us, as today my Mother will return home to spend her entire time with us. Just a mention in here, Mummy, while papa had been the torch bearer of our lives and you have been the soul, like wise this has been written by Deepak and Read by Prasoon. Together we are and together we shall be, no physical distance can ever separate the divine connection that we have with you and papa.

Coming back to this over whelming day, I want to tell you all that this oration is particularly special for us, as it is extending our thankfulness to someone as elite as my mother. I am sure all of you are aware of her achievements in life and therefore it would be a reiteration of them. However, it’s so much pleasure to talk about things like these that I will not resist myself. My mother happens to belong to a category of scholars, she has won many awards including a rare feat of 3 gold medals during her college days and yet I saw her connecting to my very less educated grandmother in the best way. This just shows the spectrum that she has, that she could adjust to the situation presented before her. She can switch between Abhigyaan Shakuntalam in Sanskrit to talking in absolute and pure hadoti in no time, needless to mention, she speaks equally good Marwari too and off-late has been picking up on a little Tamil . What an outstanding personality, when most people of her age are busy drawing curtains on their lives, she still manages to pick up new things and master them. According to what I know of her, I think she believes, preaches and practices the fundamental that, Education imparts wisdom, Education imparts the sense of being humble and education imparts a sense of self confidence.

I guess I have spoken enough about the regular things, now I would want you all to spend next few minutes listening to something which is very personal to us. Something which will show you the other side of my mother and her life. Mother’s in this world are believed to be associated with adjectives like affection, love, care, etc. Amongst these adjectives, my mother happens to add a couple more. Let me explain. It’s a world of very tough competition, where nothing but the best succeeds. I believe that to be born as best is God’s mercy, but to become one amongst good is your Mother’s dedication on you. My Mother always stood strong with us and ensured that we don’t undermine our capabilities. It was ok to fail but not ok, not to try. She would always tell us, if you fall, I will hold you, go ahead. To me this is single most important reason that we are doing well in our life.

Let’s talk about something more, Confidence that she had in us. She always had the confidence that we would reach new heights in our life; she has always been a pillar of strength behind us. She not only helped us but often gave us courage to let us explore new world. She never stopped us from becoming adventurous, never stopped us from doing what we wanted to do. She always kept saying, Keep moving, keep walking, keep fighting, and keep achieving, don’t let your hurdles come in your way. God will bless you one day. Indeed, it’s her belief and my Dad’s contribution that we, could scale up to this level and lead a normal life. While my daddy played a significant role in being the guiding star, my mother was the energy behind it all.

Today, as I talk to you all, I can say without a doubt, that whatever we could achieve is due to you mummy. There is something more that I wanted to share; in today’s world there are talks about letting your kids decide what they want, everyone talks about it and is considered modern, but let me tell you ladies and gentlemen, my mother had this vision 20 yrs ago. I captained my college cricket team for two consecutive years and played 3 different sports at University level. Prasoon can play 7 different musical instruments and is a canary of our family. This is due to her persuasion for us to take up things of our choices. Let me take this opportunity and tell you mummy that even though you never took credit for our achievements, your kids have always Thanked God for giving us a mother like you.

As I conclude, I would with a humble mind, and bowed head, like to tell you all that a Father plays an important role in life of his kids, he is the guiding star of one’s life, he makes the way to walk, his contribution towards kid’s life is iconic, but it’s the mother, who gives strength to her kid’s legs to empower them to walk on that path. My mother is a powerful lady, she could’ve achieved bigger heights, but she instead gave her entire life to bless her kids.

My mother has been a phenomenal mother, as she has played and is playing a role of a daughter, a wife and a mother with utmost perfection. I am sure, her father, her husband and her kids all are absolutely proud of her.

Maa, today we bow our heads to your outstanding life and career where you tried your best to deliver what was apt for that time. Without bowing down to pressure or tactics, you always stood strong. You have told us the value of commitment, dedication and knowledge. You have made us learn an important point, “it’s ok to fail but not ok not to try”, and the results are for us to see.

I am awake as this ceremony is happening at your place and just wished I could be there, standing amongst all and ready to take you home. But I think I will lose this to Prasoon, for he is a lucky boy, he always has been the charm of family and the reason for happiness. I think it’s ok to lose to him today for I am eagerly waiting for the day when you would arrive at USA to be with me

I think I have spoken enough, I wish I could just go on and on, but I think, I will stop in here.

Mummy, I love you and will continue to love you eternally. You are the best

Thank you all once again for hearing me patiently and giving me a chance to deliver this.